Dylan Maddix, Artistic Director
Sarah Comerford
Dominic Greene
Robert Moran, Executive Director
Dylan Maddix | Artistic Director & Senior Orchestra Conductor
Originally from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Dr. Dylan Maddix serves as Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. In this role, he conducts the Memorial University Wind Ensemble, Concert Winds and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting.
Maddix is excited to be the newly appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Senior Orchestra for the CALOS Youth Orchestra program. A versatile and experienced conductor, he has led and performed with a wide range of ensembles across Canada, including the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Royal Conservatory Brass Ensemble, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Scotia Festival Orchestra, Prince Edward Island Symphony, Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra, and the Bathurst Chamber Festival Orchestra.
Prior to his current position, Maddix was a Professor of Music and Head of Wind and Brass Studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. There, he conducted the wind ensemble and taught courses in music theory, wind/brass methods, and pedagogy. He also served as a member of the conducting faculty at Laurentian University.
Maddix serves on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Band Association and is a past chair of the Canadian Band Association. Additionally, he is the founder and co-host of The Band Room Podcast with composer Cait Nishimura and hosts the conducting leadership podcast Changing Your Pattern.
Maddix holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University, a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Toronto, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from Arizona State University. His academic journey has been shaped by mentors, including Jason Caslor, Joe Burgstaller, Gillian MacKay, Jim Spragg, Linda Pearse, and Alan Klaus.
As a trumpeter Maddix has collaborated with artists and ensembles such as Sarah McLachlan, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, The Video Games Live Orchestra, Johnny Reid, The Broadway Tenors, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Hogtown Brass Quintet, and Vox Aeris Trio.
He has conducted masterclasses at institutions across Canada, including the University of Toronto, Western University, Acadia University, Mount Allison University, and McMaster University. Maddix has also contributed his expertise as a conducting and music consultant for Netflix’s Umbrella Academy and Global TV’s Private Eyes.
Sarah Comerford | Junior Wind Ensemble & Junior Orchestra Conductor
Sarah Comerford is a musician and music educator from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in both flute performance and music education, as well as a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
With a deep commitment to instrumental music and the development of young musicians, Sarah teaches at Macdonald Drive Junior High in St. John’s, where she conducts six ensembles, including concert band, string ensemble, and jazz band. Her enthusiasm for fostering musical growth extends beyond the classroom, as she plays an active role in the local music community. Sarah frequently adjudicates at regional festivals and contributes her expertise to various committees and educational working groups.
Sarah serves as the Program Coordinator for the MUN Junior Band Camp and chair the Newfoundland and Labrador Band Association. She is also past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Music Educators’ Association.
As a performer, Sarah sings with the internationally acclaimed, award-winning women’s choir Lady Cove and plays flute and piccolo with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to music education, Sarah was recently nominated for the MusiCounts Music Educator of the Year award and attended the 2024 JUNO Awards in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Dominic Greene | String Orchestra & Junior Orchestra Conductor
A native of St. John’s, NL, violinist Dominic Greene completed a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Toronto, in the studio of Erika Raum. While in Toronto, Dominic performed with various ensembles, including the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, University of Toronto Baroque Ensemble and the Sneak Peek Orchestra. During his final year of study at U of T, Dominic was privileged to have been given the opportunity to play as concertmaster of the University of Toronto Symphony, Opera and Baroque Orchestras, under the direction of Uri Mayer, Sandra Horst and Ivars Taurins, respectively. His time at U of T also gave him the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with Jonathan Crow, Jeanne Lamon, David Stewart, Tim Ying and Marie Berard. In addition, Dominic has been an active freelance performer and teacher across the Greater Toronto Area.
Prior to his studies in Toronto, Dominic attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance with Nancy Dahn. During his time at Memorial, Dominic played violin and viola with the Memorial University Chamber Orchestra, assuming roles of concertmaster and principal viola, and was a regular member of the first violin section of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, sitting as assistant concertmaster for the 2011-2012 season. During his studies at Memorial, Dominic was the inaugural recipient of the Dorothy and David Peters Scholarship for Music Performance at Memorial University. He has participated in summer music programs, including the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, the Scotia Festival of Music, the Orford Festival and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. Dominic is also a regular member of the orchestra for the Opera on the Avalon Festival in St. John’s, for which he has played as concertmaster.
Dominic is currently the assistant concertmaster and personnel manager of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a string coach and conductor for the Calos Youth Orchestra , of which he is the former assistant concertmaster. In addition to his orchestral performance, Dominic can be seen as a violinist, pianist and organist at some local churches. He also enjoys a dynamic teaching career, maintaining a busy private music studio, and is an active instructor with the Suzuki Talent Education Program of St. John’s. In addition to orchestral performance and teaching, Dominic enjoys freelancing around the city of St. John’s and surrounding areas, and can be seen performing as half of the Saltwater Strings Duo, along with friend and colleague, Brett Vey. Saltwater Strings performs in a variety of styles including folk, pop, rock and jazz.
Robert Moran, Executive Director
Robert Moran comes to the CALOS Executive Director position not only with a passion for music and the arts, but with a wealth of experience gained from almost a decade working as Executive Director of the Community Youth Network, Southern Avalon. With a strong background in leadership, community engagement, and organizational management, Robert is eager to contribute his expertise to further the CALOS mission of inspiring artistic excellence and fostering a lifelong love of music.
In his role as Executive Director of the Community Youth Network, Southern Avalon, Robert has successfully led strategic initiatives, policy development, and fundraising efforts, collaborating closely with schools, organizations, and board members. His experience in financial management, grant proposals, and budgeting has ensured program sustainability and growth. Additionally, his role as Community Event Planner & Coordinator saw him organizing programs and fostering key partnerships of great impact.
Robert holds Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Master’s in Leadership degrees from MUN as well as a Certificate in Communications and Public Relations from Western University, and a Certificate in Policy Development and Implementation from St. Mary’s University. Robert is also a musician who has been performing publicly and regularly for over 20 years, and you are likely to cross paths with him hiking portions of the East Coast Trail most weekends.